Kabul University is not a place to play politics: Faizi

KABUL (PAN): Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi on Tuesday said the decision to remove the head of social sciences department of Kabul University and a lecturer was not correct and should have been made after a proper investigation.

The pair was removed from the faculty after a number of students went on hunger strike that lasted eight days in front of the parliament building.

The hunger strikers accused the faculty head, Abdullah Farooq and lecturer Faisal Amin of discrimination, prejudice and violation of laws, calling for their dismissal.

On Monday, higher education minister Obaidullah Obaid, accompanied by Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, National Security advisor to President Karzai and Niamatullah Shehrani, another presidential advisor, visited the protesting students with documents showing the two university staffers had been removed.

Shehrani told the students the decision would be effective from Tuesday.

But Faizi called the decision "inappropriate", saying President Karzai preferred a thorough investigation into the issue before reaching a decision on the fate of the two university teachers.

He said the Kabul University was not a place to play politics and students should not waste their time by indulging in political activities because their activism could plunge the country into deep trouble. He said some political circles were responsible for turning the social sciences faculty into a political platform.

“It is very regrettable that the university is being used for achieving political interests,” Faizi said.